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You could forgive Oliver Glasner for preferring to spend a restful few days with his family in Austria before Christmas, instead of preparing for Crystal Palace's twenty-ninth fixture of the campaign—a League Cup last-eight clash against Arsenal. However, the suggestion that Palace might focus on other tournaments was firmly dismissed by their boss.

"Absolutely not, I do not believe that," remarked Glasner after his team's side's four-one defeat to Leeds. "If somebody tells me that we lose on purpose, the next day I'm not the manager anymore."

There exists a marked difference in Glasner's strategy to cup competitions versus his forerunner, Roy Hodgson. This initially was evident during Palace's run to the Carabao Cup last eight in his first complete campaign in charge. Under Hodgson, the team had already been eliminated from both the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup by the time Glasner assumed control at Selhurst Park. In contrast, Glasner fielded his strongest team for wins over Norwich, QPR, and Aston Villa, setting up a encounter with Arsenal.

That prior quarter-final tie concluded in a three-two loss at the Emirates Stadium, due to a rather controversial hat-trick from Gabriel Jesus, despite Palace having been ahead at half-time. Now, Glasner now faces the task to devise a strategy for revenge versus the current Premier League leaders in a match that was rescheduled to this week owing to European obligations.

The Cost of Success and European Fatigue

Glasner has, in a way, been a casualty of his own achievements. Leading Palace to their maiden major trophy with a win in the FA Cup final subsequently brought the challenges of European football for the first time. These pressures are taking a toll on several weary squad members, many of whom have hardly had a break all season.

The coach deployed an completely changed lineup, including four youngsters, in their last Conference League match. Yet, for the Arsenal clash, he conceded he will have "no option" but to select the majority of his preferred side, which appeared decidedly lethargic as they uncharacteristically let in four goals from set-pieces versus Leeds. "Have to. Yes, must," he affirmed.

Arsenal's Viewpoint and Team Considerations

For Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, the situation are distinct. The manager must juggle his desire to win a second major trophy with considerable pragmatism. Last year, a hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka sustained in a league game versus Palace just days after their Carabao Cup fightback greatly harmed their title aspirations.

Arteta had made several changes for that League Cup tie but was forced to introduce his "key players" after the break. Saka was introduced from the bench to set up Jesus for a decisive goal in a move that left Glasner "furious" over a possible offside, with no VAR available—a situation that will repeat again on Tuesday.

Arsenal are on an eight-match unbeaten streak versus Palace, featuring seven wins. Gabriel Jesus, who netted a hat-trick in last season's League Cup encounter and a brace in a subsequent league win before sustaining a serious knee injury, looks set to begin for the first since that setback. Arteta revealed the forward wrote a "touching" letter to his teammates about what football means to him.

"We are accustomed to it," said Arteta on the congested fixture list. "I think this week was the only full week we had to prepare. The period until February at least is will be similar. We have a beautiful opportunity to go into the last four of a competition so we will be prepared."

With key players returning from injury and a desire to progress, Arsenal pose a formidable challenge for a Palace side urgently in need of a spark as the festive schedule intensifies.